Passing the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry Law #113

Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry

On average, The Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry (PRCCR) has a longer delay in case reporting by facilities and private doctors than most central cancer registries. This delay was due in part to weaknesses of the old law, dating back to 1951, that three amendments (1951, 1988, and 1998) did not correct. Among these weaknesses is the lack of specific penalties for not reporting in a complete and timely manner. A new law (Law #113) was created to overcome this problem.

The former cancer reporting law (Law #28) did not provide many stipulations required to facilitate compliance with cancer reporting and to be enforced appropriately. Investigators, data reporting agencies, and the registry must have clear legal access to cancer data and be protected from legal actions.

The first steps toward Law #113 began in 2008. After several meetings with the Puerto Rico legislature, private law experts, and experienced registry staff, resulting in several revisions to the law’s language, Law #113 was approved in July, 2010. Its rules were approved in February, 2011.

PRCCR Law #113 now addresses all concerns with respect to cancer data collection which include—

• A guide for complete case reporting from all facilities and medical practitioners who diagnose or treat cancer.
• Access to appropriate medical records.
• A uniform set of data elements in a uniform format.
• Protection of patient confidentiality.
• Access to data by researchers.
• Protection of liability from individuals who abide by the law.

The PRCCR launched an educational campaign directed to all facilities and medical practitioners in March, 2011. Law #113 provides the strong foundation needed to ensure that cancer data can be collected legally and made available for program planning evaluation and research to reduce the cancer burden in Puerto Rico.